Ely Gordilis in the hospital after being attacked by a pit bull (credit: Charlene Donato/Handout)

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — A 3-year-old boy is recovering after being attacked by a pit bull at a South Bronx playground.

Ely Gordilis was rushed to Saint Barnabas Hospital, where he received 28 stitches. Police said he was mauled by the dog at the Fox Playground across from his apartment building on Southern Boulevard around 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

The boy’s mother, Iris Acosta, said the dog was tied to a bike rack when it lunged at her son.

“The dog just attacked my son, jumped at him, bit his mouth and then went to bite his neck,” Acosta told 1010 WINS’ Al Jones. “It was scary, I thought I was going to lose my son.”

“Everything happened so fast. I saw the dog grab him on the neck and drop him to the floor,” Acosta told CBS 2’s John Slattery. “When I saw the holes in his mouth, I started screaming, went crazy. I saw blood on his shirt.”

Acosta said the dog’s owner, her neighbor, grabbed the dog named Bella, an 11-month old Pit Bull, and dragged it home.

Ely Gordilis’ injuries (credit: Charlene Donato/Handout)

Acosta said Ely is now afraid of the park and scared of his own dog, and she wants the pit bull to be put down.

“Pitbull. Was he a bad dog?,” asked Slattery. “Yes, bad dog,” said Gordilis.

When Slattery asked the dog’s owner, who did not want to be identified, “Aren’t you afraid it will happen again?,” she replied, “I don’t think it will.”

She also said she does not want Bella to be put down.

The Parks Department said no animals are allowed in the playground. An unrestrained dog can be seized and impounded — but it’s up to the Health Department, which is investigating the facts of the attack, Slattery reported.

What do you think should happen to the dog? Should its owner be fined? Sound off below.